Now that you have all been through two cycles of activities, you should have a good idea of how this class works: minimum of two reponses to the textbook discussion and teaching as a profession discussion with random comments for Hot Topics and Journals.

Best of all are your comments on each others messages. This group activity provides a real sense of class and more insight than just one person (namely me) with only one point of view commenting.This way we can all learn from each other.

Activity 1- Current Issues

What do you think about this issue now? Research the arguments, then discuss with other in the class.

We'll use the same Current Issue Discussion Format that we have used in the past, and we'll post our positions in the "Week 4: Hot Topics: " conference of WebBoard. Discussion Leaders please summarize at the end of the week.

This week's topic "Charter Schools" . Is there a buzz (talk about) on charter schools at your school? Do some of you know children who are in Charter Schools or have children in charter schools?

What are charter schools? Are they all the same? Should we have Charter Schools? Yes? No?

Dana and Jeanette will be our summarizers this week, which means that they will not post a Hot Topics report, but instead provide insight along the way or in the summary. It will be interesting to see how you feel on the pros and cons of this issue.

Activity 2 - How to Talk So Kids Can Learn

This week we will forge ahead with "How to Talk So Kids Can Learn." You should all be up and going in your volunteer placements. During the next few days, try out the suggestions in Chapter 2 and share at least 3 examples of what you tried and how the child responded. Post your examples in "Week 4: HTTSKCL" folder. Please remember to read and respond to at least 2 other students' postings.

Activity 3- Teaching as a Profession

This week I'd like to consider the issue of teacher accountability, one of the facts of the teaching life. Our culture tends to be suspicious of all persons in positions of power and influence, particularly in the case of government. As a public school employee you are a government worker, and as such are subject to scrutiny. Schools are now required by both the state and federal governments to provide evidence that they are serving children effectively.

I'm going to ask you to consider the No Child Left Behind Act as an example. This federal legislation brings schools under a powerful microscope, with fairly severe consequences for failing to produce results. To familiarize yourself with the requirements of the Act, please read the Executive Summary (be sure to explore the links contained in the article).

After you've thought about this for awhile, please discuss your answers to these questions:

• Can you accept that you will be responsible to the public to help children meet specific learning targets?
• What factors might make your job (of helping students be successful) more difficult? How will you deal with these factors?

Please post your thoughts in the "Week 4: Teaching as a Profession" conference of WebBoard. Provide a thoughtful response to two of your peers.

Activity 4 - Journal

For this week we'll be focusing on the learning activities you are seeing students engaged in at your school sites, and how students are reacting to those activities.

• Does most new information seem to come from the teacher, or are students making discoveries on their own?
• Are students teaching each other, or is most teaching done by adults?
• Are the activities primarily drill and practice, or discussion, or projects, or something else?
• Do students have input on the activities, or are they mostly chosen by the teacher?

My hunch is that you will see quite a variety, but particular teachers tend to have preferences for the way things happen in their classrooms.

Please post your reflections in the "Week 4: Journals" conference of WebBoard.

Week 3

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